School Event - Stansfeld Residential

7 to 11 December 2009

On Monday 7th December 2009 twenty-nine Year 5 and Year 6 pupils from Chivenor J/I School and four members of staff, set off on a bus for Stansfeld in Oxfordshire.

When we arrived at Stansfeld, we immediately went to the dormitories. In the dorms we put down our suitcases by the bed that we chose. Mike, the man who worked and lived in Stansfeld Education Centre introduced everything and everyone in Stansfeld. Mike also introduced us to Emily who also worked there.

Mike took all of the boys to the classroom; meanwhile Emily took the girls to the welly shed. Soon afterwards we met up with the girls at the welly shed and all the boys got their waterproofs and wellies.

Next we went back into the classroom for the first activity of the trip, Orienteering. Whilst in the classroom Emily explained about the Orienteering and gave each pair a map and a compass then we set off to find the numbered clips (there were 27). It was very enjoyable for everyone that took part. The majority of pairs found more than 15.

Later that day we had dinner and it was delicious. In the evening we made our beds and then we had hot chocolate and cookies, again delicious!

Tuesday came and we all woke up and got dressed into old clothes. We all got up and were ready for the morning activity. It was the night- line and the low ropes course (you had to sort yourself into pairs). We had to make our way around an assault course supporting and guiding our partners. The night line was fun as we were blind folded for this and had to pass through huge muddy puddles, around trees and under natural obstacles.

After lunch we got ready for the afternoon activity which was shelter building. We had to work hard in groups of 6 to make a shelter that was waterproof, stable, creative and big enough to fit the whole group in. It was a lot of fun and hard work.

Later on when we had supper we had flapjacks with our hot chocolate or juice.

Wednesday was the big day because we went to London. We had to get to the coach at 9:30, expecting to reach London at 11:30. When we arrived, we hurried over to Buckingham Palace where we saw the Changing of the Guards. Many people travel across the world to see this magnificent experience and it was very busy there. After that we walked through St. James Park where we saw loads of squirrels, ducks and we were even lucky enough to see a pink pelican!

After that we walked to the Royal Festival Hall where we ate our lunch then we carried on to the London Eye. Before we went on board our flight, we watched a show at the 4D cinema which was absolutely amazing. Then we went on the London Eye. It was very high and some people were a bit nervous to begin with but we all thoroughly enjoyed the views once we got going.

Afterwards we walked over a bridge to St. StevensTower where Big Ben was. On the way back to the coach we walked past Westminster Abbey where we saw protesters outside. After dinner we wrote a letter home explaining all about our day and time so far at Stansfeld.

When we woke up the next morning it was time for the morning activity which was Pond Dipping. We had to use nets, trays and small spoons to find small animals that lived in the Stansfeld ponds. Some pairs found at least 25 mini-beasts!

After lunch everyone was ready for the afternoon activity, the Survival Game! This was a game played in the woods. There were 5 groups taking part and children were; prey, predator, disease, or human, whilst the teachers were 4x4. The prey could be killed by anything but itself; the predator could be killed by human, disease and 4x4. Disease couldn't be killed, neither could 4x4. The game reflected how animals interact in nature and we used similar strategies to animals such as hiding, running fast, hunting in packs and calling warnings to each other.

Later on that day the children had a disco and a karaoke whilst the disco was being held.

On Friday morning we went into the classroom to do the morning activity. It was environmental art. We had to pair up to do this activity. The rules were: only use natural objects, don't go too far into the forest and you have to stay with your partner at all times! When we finished the activity we watched a slide-show of all the art that has been made then it was time to depart.

by Ben W and Cain F, 6K